Should I go to Film School?

The only way to learn production is to actually do Production! To emphasize that point, some of the worst production assistants we ever hired came from high-end film schools and some of the best we ever hired had heart and desire but never went to college!

Question from Ryan in Rhode Island:

Which should I do, Film School? College TV/Video Production or No School at all?

Ryan in the world there are some professions where college is just totally irrelevant.

I went to college for film back in the days when they shot film, I loved it. I actually learned from a teacher that shot film himself! Today they’re only a handful of high-end production companies and Hollywood they still practice the art of shooting film.

I have many friends and relatives that took production classes, and learned nothing more than you can find online. In fact, once they got on a shoot nothing they learned in class pertained to an actual shoot!

I’ve come to the conclusion that ‘those that do, do’. Those that can’t do, teach’ I have never met so many college professors and lecturers with no professional production experience teaching in my life!

I ask Aspiring Film & Video production people, how can you teach what you and have never done? Wouldn’t you rather learn from someone that has been there and done it? Do you want to learn how to fly from a pilot that only flew on a simulator or a pilot that has flown around the world for 15 years?

Take that tuition money, make a budget, buy my book, let’s have a coffee and go make a production. College is a waste of time. And today with inexperienced professors, film schools are the same.

The only way to learn production is to actually do Production! To emphasize that point, some of the worst production assistants we ever hired came from high-end film schools and some of the best we ever hired had heart and desire but never went to college!

Go make your project, there’s no substitute for experience!

Thanks for the question, Ryan!

You NEED and WANT Answers for YOUR Production?

JUST ASK US! Each week we will answer questions from you our readers, friends and fellow production workers.

If you want to ask a question, the easiest way is to click the ? below and fill out the form.